Say “Hello and Welcome” to the All-New 2023 BMW i7, the first BMW car offering level 3 self-driving, otherwise known as autonomous driving capability. This will likely be the initial focal point of this new 7- Series BMW, but it will eventually take the backseat as consumers discover other fantastic features of this piece of technology on wheels, the core reasons you will know you’ve just got to lay your hands on this car.
Of course, autonomous driving is an emerging technology, and just about every marquee worth its salt is scrambling to get ahead with it or simply be left behind. Electrified motoring just won't be enough in the third millennium without a high level of autonomous driving capabilities. You should know that Level 3 autonomous driving is groundbreaking enough to be the i7's main selling point, but what happens when – not if – another brand or even another BMW model surpasses that level?
Thankfully, the 2023 i7 has plenty more going for it besides driverless capability. Did you just crash planet earth and wonder what the Kryptonian is a BMW i7? Alright, the i7 is an offspring of the BMW 7-Series full-sized luxury sedans born in 1977 as the successor to the just-as-venerable E3. Now in its 7th generation, the i7 offers a realistic peak of the 7-Series’s future. Let’s show you why we’re dreaming of owning this luxury and performance sedan.
What We Know So Far About The 2023 BMW i7
The i7’s driverless technology is central to the car. It’s no small feat to be among the one or two brands (we’re sure about Polestar 3 E-SUV) brave enough to lead the emerging autonomous driving industry. Not even almighty Tesla is offering Level 3 autonomous driving as yet.
Back in 2018, Volkswagen unveiled the all-new Audi A8 with lofty claims of advanced Level 3 autonomous driving capability. It even showed up in Marvel’s "Spiderman" but stuck with Level 2 autonomous driving despite the Level 3 rave. Why? Audi wasn’t brave enough to deal with state-by-state regulations and the liabilities that would follow a disaster blamed on the technology. Audi’s hesitation is understandable considering the “unintended acceleration” palaver of the '80s.
This makes it all the more significant that BMW has faith enough in its LiDAR-Innoviz technology to actually launch it. For U.S. automakers, including GM, Lucid Motors, and Tesla, the Level 3 autonomous driving project is still in the works. To appreciate how much this means in the motoring world, consider that Tesla's Autopilot classifies as Level 2 under the SAE International six levels (0 to 5) of vehicle automation.
Both Level 2 and 3 fall in the semi-autonomous category. But while Level 2 requires a human driver to monitor the ride at all times, Level 3 is a substantial leap ahead through LiDAR-powered "environmental detection" capabilities, whereby it can make informed decisions autonomously without requiring a human driver to intervene at a moment’s notice. For example, the i7 can accelerate to overtake a slow-moving vehicle while still leaving the human driver the option to override the execution.
This may not seem like such a quantum leap from Level 2, but it is a significant step toward the sixth level.
Now, here's the thing. Neither Tesla nor Audi may bother launching a Level 3 anymore, but instead, play a longer-game approach, say, a Level 4 or even 5 Autopilot Tesla. With regulations shifting from a federal to a state-by-state basis, it makes sense to sharpen the technology as much as possible before launching. At that point, Level 3 would collapse to half-baked autonomous capacity, and pioneers like the 2023 BMW i7 would be left with other features to define them.
Thankfully, the i7 is more than just a semi-driverless car. In the meantime, BMW says the i7 will be Level 3-capable, even if most markets won’t allow it. Now, let’s see what the i7 is really about besides the attention-stealing driverless capability.
Features, Price, And Availability Of The 2023 BMW i7
Now, here are the real deals about the 2023 BWM i7 as far as we’re concerned. It embraces its place as the flagship sedan with an iconic reputation to maintain. Thus, the all-new i7 is a masterpiece of extensive vehicular technology, high-performance – exemplified in powerful acceleration, intelligent battery charging, smarter regenerative braking, and an extensive array of top-of-the-line vehicular technologies.
The i7 is an all-electric variant of the 2023 7-Series luxury sedan featuring an overall bold new look that’s more than just a facelift. The ever-expanding kidney grille is now illuminated, along with the headlights. An available Crystal Headlights made of crystal glass enhances the premium ambiance for customers who settle for nothing but the absolute best. The overall body profile exudes simple yet unmistakable elegance and a grand stance reflective of effortless class. It's not all about style, though.
The flush window design among other things promotes aerodynamic qualities. The model is the very first fully-electric BMW 7-Series. Unsurpisingly, the i7 offers a spacious interior the marquee calls a "private lounge." That term is by no means exaggerated when you experience the ample rear legroom and the super-sized 31-inch custom Theater Screen with built-in Amazon Fire TV. The 8K resolution cinematic experience is enhanced by 5G connectivity via Personal eSim and an integrated premium sound system.
The indulgent rear cabin comes with ventilated, heated, and massage comfort seats providing the ultimate relaxation that you might not want your trip to end. The sense of belonging extends to the driver, with an all-new, full-featured Curved Display and dashboard featuring BMW's Interaction Bar. Both chauffer and chauffeured enjoy an ultimate stargazing experience via the larger Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof offering brilliant graphics, brighter light intensity, dynamic LED control, and customizable colors.
With two electric motors, the 2023 BMW i7 can complete the 300 miles (0 to 60 mph) sprint in 4.5 seconds, a comparatively slow but decent speed. Its focus is more on luxury, passenger safety, handling, and performance.
Detuned to a top speed of 149 mph, the motors can make a combined factory-rated 536 horses (up to 80 miles) and 549 pound-force feet of torque. The motor is expected to achieve a 310-mile range per charge. You can preorder your BMW i7 at the MSRP of $119,300 (starting price) before it begins flying off dealerships in 2023. The i7 is a single trim – xDrive60.